Signal



"ni- BENNIINGIFHELD S IGNAL Filed Jan. 2, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet l 'AITORNEY WITNESS:

T. BENNINGFIELD sieNAL 2, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan ATTORNEY WiTNESS:

Aug. 7, 11923.

T. BENNINGFIIELID SIGNAL 2, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan.

INVENTOR ATTORNEY lltl llii

lt atenteel u. 7, i923.

EHO BEINGFTJELID, OF COATS, KANSAS, ASSIGNOR F ONE-WEIRD TU .OFlC.

LANCASTER, 01E ALVA, OKLAHOMA.

SIGNAL.

application filed January 2, 19% Serial No. eiaaea.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it @own that I, THOMAS BENNING- rinnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Coats, in the county of Pratt and State of Kansas, have invented new and useful Improvements in Signals, of which the following is a specification. r

This invention relates to im rovements in road signals and has for an o ject the provision of means designed to be positioned within a roadway in advance of a danger point operated by approaching vehicles, whereby a signal will be operated to warn the drivers of vehicles approaching from another direction.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a signal operated means, which will be rendered active by vehicles approaching a danger point and the parts returned to normal position after such point has been passed, the construction and arrangement being such that vehicles traveling in an opposite direction will not eject the operation of the signal.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention further includes the following novel features and details of construction, to be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the appended claims.

lin the drawings Figure 1 is a section taken longitudinally of a roadway and showing the signal in danger position.

F igure 2 is a section taken transversely of the roadway and along the longitudinal center of the setting trip.

Figure 3.. is a similar view. taken longitudinally of the release trip.

F igure 4: is a top plan view.

Figure 5 is an enlarged elevatlon partly broken away showing the upper end of the signal standard with the semaphore in danger position.

Figure 6 is an elevation of the upper end of the standard with the semaphore in danger position, but illustrating a different arrangement of signal lamp.

Referring in detail to the drawings, wherein like characters of reference denote corresponding parts, the signal which is designed to be positioned at one side of a roadway adjacent a point of danger, comprises a standard 10. This standard has secured at its upper end, spaced arms or plates 11 which are horizontally arranged and which have pivotally mounted between their outer ends as shown at 11, a signal arm or semaphore 12. This arm or semaphore 1s normally arranged in vertical positlon and when in such position indicates clear or safety, but is adapted to be moved to a horizontal position to indicate danger.

For the purpose of moving the arm to danger position, there is provided a setting trip which is indicated generally at for the passage of the plate 14. This plate is normally vertically disposed and is provided along its lower edge with a fulcrum bar 17, from which extends an arm 18, the latter projecting above the roadway. The fulcrum bar 17 extends'beyond the ends of the plate 14 to provide trunnions 19 and the latter are mounted in suitable bearings provided in abutments 20 at each end of the trough 15. The plate is yieldingly held in centered position by means of a plurality of springs 21, which extend from the plate to the opposite sides of the trough. Also extending from the opposite sides or the plate 14 are transversely curved plates or shields 22 which are arranged beneath the slot 16 and act to maintain the slot in closed condition when the plate is pivotally moved in either direction by the passage of a vehicle thereover.

The inner end of the signal arm 12 has secured thereto one end of a flexible memher or cable 23 which passes over a pulley till 24 mounted between the plates 11 and downend is connected to the arm 1 8. An e xtensible section or spring 30 is included in the flexible member or cable 23 to prevent tain the arm in such position until purosely released. The opposite end of the etch 32 is forced outwardly by means of a spring 34 to yieldingly hold the hook in engagement with the signal arm. Located transversely of the roadway and spaced from the trough 15 is a trough 35 and mounted within this trough is a release trip 36 which is capable of vertical movement. This trip is transversely beveled in opposite directions as shown and is normally maintained slightly above the surface of the roadway by means of a plurality of sprmgs 37, the latter bearing against the under face of the trip and upon a shoulder or ledge 38 provided in abutments 39 at opposite ends of the trough 35. Upward movement of the trip 36 is limited by stop yokes 40 located at each end of the trough 35.

One end of the tri 36 is connected tothe lower end of the latch 32 by means of a cable 41, the said cable passing over a pulley 42 carried by the standard 10. In addition, the standard is connected to the signal arm 12 by means of a spring 43 which acts to draw the said arm downward when the latch 32 is released.

Extendin outwardly from the upper end of the stan ard 10 is an arm 44 which car rise at its outer end an audible signal in the form of a plate or gong 45. This signal is located in the path of the outer end of the si a1 arm 42 and the latter is provided at said outer end with a metallic member or striker 46.

Normally, the signal arm 12 is arran ed in lowered or safety position and a vehic e approachin a point of danger protectedby the signad will strike the upper edge of the plate 14 and move said plate in the direction of the arrow shown in Figures 1 and 4. The plate 14 will then be moved ivotally in the irection of said arrow, whereupon the cable 23 will move the si nal arm 12 pivotally to raised position, w ich arm during its upward movement will strike the signal or gong 45 so as to produce an audible signal.

The inner end of the signal arm 12 will be engaged beneath the head of the latch 32 .so that the said arm will he held in danger position until the vehicle reaches the trip 36. This trip will then be depressed so as to exert a pull upon the cable 31 and move the head of the latch outward to release the arm 12 and the latter will fall by gravity assisted by the s ring 43 to its normal or inactive position. t will be apparent that a veh1- cle travelling in a direction opposlte the arrow will move the trip plate 14 in its direction of travel so that no pull will be exerted upon the cable 23 and therefore no action of the signal will occur.

In addition to the audible si nal 45, there is provided a visual signal int c form of an electric bulb 47 which is located within an opening provided in the si nal arm or semaphore 12, a colored lens heingpreferably provided upon opposite sides of the bulb and closing the opening; The bulb 47 is connected by means of a conductor 48 to a contact plate 49 whichis carried by the inner end of the arm 12 and which is engagedby the latch 32. This latch is in electrical connection with a suitable source of current by means of a conductor 50, while the bulb may be grounded in any suitable manner. When the signal arm or semaphore 12 is elevated and engages the latch 32, a circuit will be completed through the bulb 47.

The arangement shown in Fi ure 6 of the drawings diiiers only in regar to the position and arrangement of the signal lamp 51. This lamp is mounted upon the outer end of the arm 44 which carries the audible signal or gong 45 and current is supplied to the lamp 51 by a cable 52 which connects the lamp with the plate or contact 49, as in the reviously described form of the invention.

y mounting the lam 51 uponthe arm 44 the said lamp will not subjected to danger of injury due to the movements of the semaphore 12.

The invention is susceptible of various changes in its form, proportions and minor details of constructlon and the right is herein reserved to make such changes as properly 'fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention what is claimed is 1. in a road signal, a. standard, a normally inactive signal arm pivotally mounted thereon, a vehicle operated member, means operatively connecting said member with the signal, whereby the latter will be moved to an active position when the member is actuated, an audible signalling device located in the path of the signal arm and actuated thereby when the latter is moved to an active position, means for holding the arm in signalnapaa sition when the member is actuated, means for holding the arm in signalling position and means spaced from the vehicle operated member and also actuated by a vehicle, whereby the holding means will be operated to release the arm.

3. In a road signal, a standard, a normally inactive signal arm pivotally mounted thereon, a pivotally mounted vertically disposed horizontal plate arranged transversely of the'roadway in the path of vehicle travel, yieldable means for holding the plate in normal position, means operatively connecting the plate with the slgnal, whereby the latter will be moved to an active position by vehicles travelling in one direction only, means for holding the arm in signalling position and means spaced from the plate and located in the ath of vehicular travel, whereby the holding means will be actuated to release the arm,

4. ln a road signal, a standard, a normall inactive signal arm pivotally mounted t ereon, a vehicle operated member, means at operatively connecting said member with the signal, whereby the latter will be moved to an active position when the member is actuated, a pivotally mounted spring pressed latch located upon the standard and enaging the arm to hold the latter in signaling position and means spaced from the vehicle operated member in the path of vehicular travel and operatively connected to the latch, whereby the latter will be actuated to release the arm.

In testim'on whereof I afix my si ature.

'll QMAS BENNINGFI Ll).

till 

